Information processing apparatus creates virtual printer to transmit print job to associated image forming apparatus which supports predetermined print format

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing instructions. Executing the instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform operations. A virtual device on the information processing apparatus to transmit a print job to an image forming apparatus is selected. A user interface is displayed that is for activating, in accordance with the selected virtual device and among one or more applications to provide an additional function to the image forming apparatus, an application that corresponds to a model of the image forming apparatus to which the selected virtual device transmits the print job.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer that has a print function for generating a first format print data, the computer comprising:
 a controller including a processor and a memory storing an application, wherein the processor is configured by executing the application to perform operations including: 
 creating a virtual printer in the application, wherein the virtual printer is associated with a printer that does not support the first format print data, 
 notifying information of the virtual printer to the print function of the computer, wherein the notified information indicates that the virtual printer supports the first format print data, 
 obtaining status information of the printer associated with the virtual printer from the printer, 
 receiving a user instruction for displaying a status of the virtual printer, and 
 displaying the obtained status in accordance with the received user instruction. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer according to  claim 1 , wherein, by using a specific protocol, the print function is configured to allow printing without using a printer driver. 
     
     
       3. The computer according to  claim 1 , wherein the operations further include notifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address for virtual printer to the print function of the computer. 
     
     
       4. The computer according to  claim 1 , wherein the virtual printer is configured not to display a print setting user interface. 
     
     
       5. The computer according to  claim 1 , wherein the virtual printer is created in an application, and wherein the generated first format print data is transmitted from the print function to the virtual printer in the application stored in the memory by designating an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port number for the virtual printer. 
     
     
       6. The computer according to  claim 5 , wherein an IP address for the virtual printer is provided from the application stored in the memory to an operating system. 
     
     
       7. The computer according to  claim 1 , wherein the operations further include:
 converting the first format print data to a second format print data, and 
 transmitting the second format print data to the printer. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer according to  claim 7 , wherein the converted second format print data is transmitted from the print function to the virtual printer by designating an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the virtual printer. 
     
     
       9. The computer according to  claim 1 , wherein the operations further include:
 specifying one or more functions corresponding to the printer associated with the virtual printer, and 
 displaying one or more objects corresponding to the one or more functions, 
 wherein the received user instruction is an instruction for selecting one of the one or more objects. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more functions are specified based on information of a model of the printer associated with the virtual printer. 
     
     
       11. A method for controlling a computer that has a print function for generating a first format print data, the method comprising:
 creating a virtual printer in the application, wherein the virtual printer is associated with a printer that does not support the first format print data; 
 notifying information of the virtual printer to the print function of the computer, wherein the notified information indicates that the virtual printer supports the first format print data; 
 obtaining status information of the printer associated with the virtual printer from the printer; 
 receiving a user instruction for displaying a status of the virtual printer; and 
 displaying the obtained status in accordance with the received user instruction. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein, by using a specific protocol, the print function is configured to allow printing without using a printer driver. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the virtual printer is configured not to display a print setting user interface. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising notifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address for virtual printer to the print function of the computer. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the virtual printer is created in an application, and wherein the generated first format print data is transmitted from the print function to the virtual printer in the application stored in the memory by designating an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port number for the virtual printer. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein an IP address for the virtual printer is provided from the application stored in the memory to an operating system. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an application to cause a computer to perform a method for controlling a computer that has a print function for generating a first format print data, the method comprising:
 creating a virtual printer in the application, wherein the virtual printer is associated with a printer that does not support the first format print data; 
 notifying information of the virtual printer to the print function of the computer, wherein the notified information indicates that the virtual printer supports the first format print data; 
 obtaining status information of the printer associated with the virtual printer from the printer; 
 receiving a user instruction for displaying a status of the virtual printer; and 
 displaying the obtained status in accordance with the received user instruction. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the virtual printer is created in an application, and wherein the generated first format print data is transmitted from the print function to the virtual printer in the application stored in the memory by designating an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port number for the virtual printer. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 18 , wherein an IP address for the virtual printer is provided from the application stored in the memory to an operating system.